Cover Image: The Better Sister

The Better Sister

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Member Reviews

Can you say "plot twist"? Get yourself a copy of this book! Current topics, gender related work issues, family dynamics, and aspects of "who done it?" combine to make a you-won't-believe-the-outcome thriller.

I was not sure I'd like this new book until I was a few chapters into it but then zing, the pacing picked up and I was hooked; I practically read it in one sitting.

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Alafair Burke has done it again - and dare I say - this may just be her best yet!

Chloe Taylor, an editor-in-Chief of a women’s magazine spearheading the #MeToo movement - returns home to lavish Hamptons weekend home to find her husband stabbed to death. But, Chloe and Adam didn’t exactly have a boy-meets-girl traditional start, Adam is divorced from Chloe’s own sister, Nicky. Delving into family relationships and unraveling exactly how someone marries their sister’s ex while wondering “whodunnit” in a murder case really showcases Burke’s skills as a master of intrigue and suspense. I found myself theorizing constantly and devouring this book at rapid pace, I just had to know what happened!

Thank you to HarperCollins for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

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Another thriller from the prolific mystery author Alafair Burke. Having worked hard for her success and now leading the perfect life with the perfect family, Chloe's stepson is suddenly accused of murdering his father. The twists and turns will keep surprising you until the end.

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As with her previous book, The Wife, Alafair Burke has delivered a solid story with plenty of twists to satisfy readers of psychological thrillers. I found this story to be less suspenseful than the wife, but it held my interest and I wanted to know how the story would end. I can't wait to read more from this author whose works are sure to become core to the genre.

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Alafair Burke writes about relationships; this book is about two sisters. Chloe runs a magazine company and has won awards for her work. She is married to a lawyer. Her stepson is her sister's son. One night Chloe comes home to find her husband has been stabbed to death.
Good thriller, although the book dragged in the middle during the trial scenes. I'm heading out to find more Alafair Burke's books.

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I can’t belive that this is only the second book by this author that I’ve read. The writing kept me going when the story got me down. There were parts that I’m not sure did anything for the story. I didn’t buy the scenario with the sisters, Chloe and Nicky. I would have liked some sort of closure with Jake.

All in all I don’t regret reading this book and will more than likely read another book by this author.

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The Better Sister by Alafair Burke

Chloe Taylor is a successful editor of a women’s magazine. She gained much of her fame from starting #ThemToo, which is the non-celebrity women’s #MeToo movement. She is married to a successful lawyer and has a wonderful son. At least that is her public image and things are not always what they appear to be. Her husband, Adam, is actually her sister, Nicky’s ex-husband and her son, Ethan, is her nephew. Chloe is estranged from her sister. She constantly receives threats on social media from those who do not believe in #ThenToo. Then she finds Adam murdered in their house and Ethan becomes the main suspect in the murder. Chloe tries to find out who murdered Adam and save Ethan.

This is the first book I have read by Alafair Burke written by only her. I have read all of her books written with Mary Higgins Clark and love them. I was not disappointed in this stand alone book! The story line was very intriguing. I loved the characters and was consistently trying to guess who the killer was. The only downside was the book became a little complicated at the end. It was not enough to take away the enjoyment of the book. I loved this book and is a great choice for a weekend read!

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Chloe Taylor has it all. As one of the most influential women in magazine publishing, she has become the queen of the “Me Too” movement. Her articles and essays are read by everyone.

When her husband Adam is found murdered in their vacation home, an her stepson is charged with the crime, Chloe’s carefully constructed world comes crashing down. Ethan’s biological mother, Adam’s first wife, comes to support her son — and her sister Chloe.

As the trial progresses, all of the dark secrets of the family are put on display for all the world to see, and the shocking revelations will change everything forever.

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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of The Better Sister by Alafair Burke! I had never read anything written by Burke, but I have a ton of her stuff of my to-read list. I was blown away by the ending of this book, and honestly didn't see it coming, which is a shock to me, as I pride myself as quite the armchair detective. This story made me laugh, cry and flip through the pages as fast as I could due to the anxiety of what could happen next. I think this book is also really important in the climate we're in today. I will recommend this to my patron's who are thriller lovers like myself.

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This domestic drama was a letdown compared to the author's previous book, The Wife. It starts out well but then gets boring. It's rather slow moving and a little confusing. Just expected more.

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Alafair Burke's books never disappoint, and this was no exception! I loved the twisted, awkward scenario that Chloe and Nicky found themselves in years later (I mean, I can't imagine my sister marrying my husband!) but Burke does a fantastic job of pulling you in and making you feel like you have to know what is going to happen! Loved it.

Thank you to Net Galley for a chance to read and review this book.

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Loved this book! So glad I decided to give her another chance after the horrendous ending of her last book. This was a fast paced murder mystery and I loved the twists and turns. Very enjoyable read that you don’t want to put down.

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Having been a huge fan of Alafair Burke’s already, I knew this book would live up to her reputation and guess what….it did!!

Mystery, suspense, even a bit of thriller mixed in; I completely devoured the story and really couldn’t put it down.

Two sisters, a husband and a son with domestic abuse and murder mixed in…what could possibly be the reasoning and who comes out of it alive without a prison term?

Five Stars all the way!!!

A huge thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins for the advanced readers copy, I’m not sure i could have waited till the release date!!

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Alafair Burke brings us the complicated story of two sisters. Chloe and her sister Nicky are as different as night and day. But, they end up marrying the same man. Chloe is the distinguished sister who seems to have it all with a great husband and a good stepson. Nicky is the sister who threw it all away. Then one day, a horrible event brings the two sisters together to weather through this storm.

The story is divided into four parts. Each part gives more to the story than the previous one. Each adds an element of surprise and mystery to the story. You think you know where the story is leading you only to be thrown off by another piece of the puzzle. I enjoyed reading about Chloe and Nicky as well as finding out more about Adam and Ethan. Alafair Burke gives us intrigue as we delve into the lives of these characters and what shaped them into becoming the people we find in the book. She gives us what seemingly appears to be a great life only to learn that things often are not what they seem especially behind closed doors.

I look forward to reading more from this author as I have enjoyed all of her previous works as well as her collaborations with Mary Higgins Clark. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I would like to thank NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for this privilege.

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I read The Wife last year and was engrossed in the story. I had high expectations for this one but unfortunately it fell flat for me. It wasn't nearly as gripping as The Wife and there was a lot of courtroom drama that took away from the story.

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The Better Sister by Alafair Burke. From beginning to end, there are twists and turns dark secrets, lies and betrayals . Just when you think you have it figured out ,Ms Burke pulls the rug out from under you every time. A fast paced, entertaining and engrossing read.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

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Thank you Net Galley and Harper Collins for an early release of The Better Sister. It was real good. I had no idea who did it!!! Caught me by surprise, a real suspenseful psychological. I absolutely loved it.

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2.5 stars...

This one was only okay. For starters, I really, really disliked the main character, Chloe. Her pretentiousness and sense of entitlement (and the fact that she was oblivious to both) had me rolling my eyes regularly. I could write an essay on everything I disliked about her character but I'll leave it at that.

There was a lot going on in The Better Sister and I struggled to keep the many underdeveloped plot lines straight. I've enjoyed other books by Alafair Burke so I would be willing to give her next book a shot, this one just wasn't great.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.

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With plenty of twists and turns, this is a novel about family and mystery. Chloe is the extremely successful and wealthy leader of the "themtoo" movement and magazine editor. She is married to a successful attorney Adam, who used to be married to her sister, and she is step-mother to their teenage son Ethan. In spite of the perfect veneer of their lives, the murder of Adam and subsequent trial uncover many secrets, some of which Chloe has been guarding and some of which she never knew. The characters are well-drawn and the action progresses quickly as surprises are brought to light. If this plot resonates with readers, they might also like The Perfect Liar by Thomas C. Greene and All We Ever Wanted by Emily Griffin.

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The Better Sister
Alafair Burke
April 16, 2019

Chloe Taylor was thirty and her life as a journalist was finally paying off. Her job as editor of City Woman magazine had earned her a choice position among the who’s who. Enjoying her single life in Manhattan, she found herself guest of her boss’s boss at the Metropolitan Museum of Art attending a gala event. Her phone buzzed as she walked across the ball room. Finding it was her sister, Nicki she declined, and carried on with her short conversations with guests. It rang again, excusing herself, she exited to the courtyard to answer. It was her brother-in-law, Adam. He was using her sister’s phone. Something must be wrong, he only called in regard to Nicki if she had pulled another one of her stunts. This is where Chloe’s life changed. Adam became sole guardian for their son, Ethan and Nicki was placed in a mental health center for observation and treatment. Adam moved to Manhattan with Ethan, Chloe’s journalist life soared as well as her involvement in Adam and Ethan’s life.
Thus begins the cycle of love and anger within the family, eventually leading to Adam’s murder. Who killed him? The plot continues on and becomes entangled in the lives of Chloe, Nicki and Ethan. Burke wrote the plot without the development being obvious to the reader. It was a mystery I did enjoy. I have always enjoyed her novels and this follows through with all that I have read.
The publisher is Harper Collins. The Better Sister is due to be published April 16, 2019.

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